IMMORTALITY.

AND leaving Nazareth, Jesus came and dwelt in Capernaum,

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Now, a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany,
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold,

he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Matt. iv. Luke xx. John xi.

IMMORTALITY.

REAT lives spring from great Faith. The golden hands

GREAT

on the great clock of nature never go back. The inspiring truth of man's double immortality, earthly and heavenly, having once been given to humanity, will never be let go. No season ever passes when some one may not say to a friend,"He whom thou lovest is sick;" but sickness, as Jesus says, is not unto death; for when the light of the glory of God falls upon it, it is transmuted into life. Death is not the dark valley, leading down; but the bright archway, leading up. There is another continent beyond the sea. The map of this life suggests another life; it is needful to complete the sphere; both hemispheres of life are ours, and the sea does not separate, but unites. The celestial way is still open. Can anything but our faithless hearts close the gate ? Even they cannot quite close it; for light enough shines through, every time it opens, to make us say,

"Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."

THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT.

ET us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of

LET

faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

sons.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Make

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

Hebrews.

THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT.

MY

God, I thank thee! may no thought E'er deem thy chastisements severe; But may this heart, by sorrow taught, Calm each wild wish, each idle fear.

Thy mercy bids all nature bloom;
The sun shines bright, and man is gay;
Thine equal mercy spreads the gloom
That darkens o'er his little day.

Full many a throb of grief and pain
Thy frail and erring child must know;
But not one prayer is breathed in vain,
Nor does one tear unheeded flow.

Thy various messengers employ;
Thy purposes of love fulfil;

And, 'mid the wreck of human joy,
Let kneeling faith adore thy will.

ANDREWS NORTON.

THE UPPER ROOM.

THEN came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover

must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go, and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Luke xxii.